Digital Signal Interference Cancellation in Radio Front Ends
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio frequency interference (RFI) cancellation methods in computing systems, such as metal shielding and replica circuit-based approaches, are costly, power-hungry, and complex, making them impractical for consumer electronics, especially for mitigating interference from data buses and radio transmitters operating at different frequencies.
Innovation Solution
A digital signal generator injects a digitally processed signal with spectral energy matching the interference source but opposite phase into the radio front end, eliminating the need for replica circuits and reducing power consumption and cost, using signal processing techniques for effective interference cancellation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If metal shielding is used to overcome interference, then interference protection is improved, but cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical metal shielding (mechanical approach) with digital signal processing to generate cancellation signals. Instead of using physical barriers to block interference, the system uses digital algorithms to generate anti-phase signals that cancel the interference electronically, thereby eliminating the need for heavy metal shielding components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces digital signal processing as an intermediary between the interference source and the radio receiver. The cancellation signal generator creates intermediate cancellation signals that mediate the interaction between interference and the receiver, allowing interference mitigation without direct physical shielding.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If metal shielding is used to overcome interference, then interference protection is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive metal shielding manufacturing with software-based digital signal processing. The cancellation signal generator uses digital algorithms to create interference-canceling signals, eliminating the need for costly metal shielding materials and their associated manufacturing, assembly, and testing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies or representations of the interference signal characteristics and generates corresponding anti-phase cancellation signals. By working with digital signal models rather than physical shielding structures, the system achieves interference protection at lower cost through software-based signal replication and inversion.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If replica circuits are used for front end cancellation, then interference cancellation is improved, but power consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces power-hungry replica radio front-end circuits with digital signal processing. Instead of duplicating the entire radio front end in analog form (which consumes significant power), the system uses digital algorithms to generate cancellation signals based on processed versions of the transmitted signal, dramatically reducing power consumption while maintaining cancellation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates simplified digital copies of the interference signal characteristics rather than full analog replicas. The cancellation signal generator processes digital representations of the transmitted signal to generate anti-phase cancellation signals, avoiding the need for power-intensive analog replica circuits while achieving the same interference cancellation goal.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If replica circuits are used for front end cancellation, then interference cancellation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex analog replica circuitry with digital signal processing algorithms. The cancellation signal generator uses software-based processing to create interference-canceling signals, eliminating the need for complex duplicate radio front-end hardware, mixers, amplifiers, and other analog components, thereby simplifying the overall device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal digital signal processing solution that can handle multiple interference scenarios through software algorithms. The cancellation signal generator can adapt to different interference types and characteristics through programmable digital processing, replacing the need for dedicated replica circuits for each specific interference case, thus reducing overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively cancels RFI with reduced power consumption and cost, simplifying integration into existing systems, and is more efficient than traditional methods by directly addressing interference at the front end of radio receivers.
Implementation Method 1
A digital signal generator generates a digital signal with spectral energy that is proportional to spectral energy of the signal underlying the source of interference at the interference frequency of interest
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device can include a radio receiver to receive a radio signal from a radio transmitter of a second computing or communication device. The radio receiver can experience radio frequency interference. The computing device can also include a digital signal generator. The digital signal generator can be to process a signal (S1) underlying a source of the radio frequency interference. The digital signal generator can also be to generate a digital signal (S1). The digital signal generator can further be to inject the digital signal (S1) into the radio receiver to cancel the radio frequency interference around the radio frequency of interest.